PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rodriguez
vs
Johnson

185 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.

Johnson darts in and clinches Rodriguez up against the cage.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson is stalling here.

Johnson successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand up but Rodriguez is controlling him.
Rodriguez advances to half guard.
Rodriguez stalling away here and it's allowed Johnson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Johnson working for a triangle but Rodriguez defends it easily.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rodriguez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Johnson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Johnson has escaped and now he's on top!

Rodriguez is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Johnson has eaten all the pies!
Johnson advances position into side control!
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides to stand back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson laying and praying for a moment but Rodriguez takes advantage and regains half guard.
Rodriguez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is defending well.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to control here.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Rodriguez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodriguez missing with punches from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodriguez misses with a two punch combination.
Rodriguez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is dominant here and he's now got Rodriguez's back!
Johnson gets his hands free as Rodriguez looks to control.
Rodriguez tries to roll but Johnson sticks to his back.
I would not like to be Rodriguez right now.

Rodriguez fending off the submission attempt from Johnson.
Rodriguez is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson gets his hands free as Rodriguez looks to control.
Rodriguez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rodriguez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson unloads with some shots from mount but Rodriguez bucks and avoids them well.
Rodriguez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
You get the feeling that Rodriguez really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rodriguez?

It looks like Kevin Rodriguez has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!

Kevin Rodriguez's cut is getting worse.
Johnson working Rodriguez over with strikes here.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodriguez is looking to escape.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Rodriguez has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Rodriguez is squirming around nicely.

Johnson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson tries to control but Rodriguez wriggling away.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson won't let Rodriguez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rodriguez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Johnson. What's that going to do exactly?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kevin Rodriguez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rodriguez sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Joe Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson passes to full mount!

Johnson working for a submission but Rodriguez is keeping him at bay.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson looking to control but Rodriguez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodriguez tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to improve his position but instead Johnson has taken his back!
Johnson trying to control momentarily.

Johnson working for the choke.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez tries to escape the position.

Johnson looking to break Rodriguez's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rodriguez remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Johnson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rodriguez tries to escape but Johnson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Johnson throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is not going to allow Rodriguez to sit and survive in this position.
You can see the frustration on Rodriguez's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Rodriguez defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Johnson's arms.

Johnson working for a choke but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rodriguez to take his back!

Johnson is working for a rear naked choke. Rodriguez is not defending it well and Johnson has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Rodriguez refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Rodriguez's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joe Johnson!